Okaloosa County School Board — Workshop Meeting, September 8, 2025 — reading text

by the Superintendent for approval. Meeting : Sep 8, 2025 - Workshop Meeting Type : Action Preferred Date : Sep 08, 2025 Absolute Date : Sep 08, 2025 Recommended Action : Motion to approve a new job description for Specialist, Public Information Officer. Public Content A Public Hearing will be held to receive public input and consider approval for the new job description for Specialist, Public Information Officer. The proposed job description outlines responsibilities that include the clear and effective communication between the District, community, media, and stakeholders, enhancing awareness, understanding, and support of the District's work. Please contact Lee Hale for additional information at 850-833-5801. File Attachments Specialist - Public Information Officer.pdf (130 KB) 15. Public Hearing Subject : 15.4 Public Hearing for adoption of a new job description for Program Director, Federal Programs, presented by Lee Hale, Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources, and recommended by the Superintendent for approval. Meeting : Sep 8, 2025 - Workshop Meeting Type : Action Preferred Date : Sep 08, 2025 Absolute Date : Sep 08, 2025 Recommended Action : Motion to approve a new job description for Program Director, Federal Programs. Public Content A Public Hearing will be held to receive input and consider approval of a new job description for Program Director, Federal Programs. The proposed job description outlines responsibilities that include securing and facilitating competitive grants for the district and individual schools. Please contact Lee Hale for additional information at 850-833-5801. File Attachments Program Director - Federal Programs.doc.pdf (100 KB) 15. Public Hearing Subject : 15.5 Required Local Effort Millage Rate, presented by Julie Perry, Chief Financial Officer, and recommended by the Superintendent for approval. Meeting : Sep 8, 2025 - Workshop Meeting Type : Action Preferred Date : Sep 08, 2025 Absolute Date : Sep 08, 2025 Recommended Action : Motion to approve the Required Local Effort Millage Rate of 3.1290 Mills. Public Content Florida State Law requires school districts to levy the Required Local Effort portion of the millage rate in order to receive State education funding. The Required Local Effort millage is set by the State, and Okaloosa School District’s must levy this amount in order to receive $144.7 million in State education funding for fiscal year 2025-2026. In fiscal year 2024-2025, the District's Required Local Effort was 3.129 plus Prior Period Millage Adjustment of 0.0020 for a Total Required Local Effort of 3.1310. In fiscal year 2025-2026, the District's Required Local Effort is 3.129, a reduction of 0.0020. Over the past 31 years, the Required Local Effort has been on a downward projectory, dropping from 6.530 in fiscal year 1995-1996 to 3.129 in fiscal year 2025-2026 with small increases periodically mixed in. Please see the attached document which contains a comparison of millage and gross taxable value of property, an analysis of property taxes generated and the impact on homeowners, and a history of all millage rates approved since fiscal year 1995-1996. Even though the millage rate is decreasing, property taxes are expected to increase due to the increase in property value; therefore, the School District must advertise that it is proposing an increase to property taxes. File Attachments P&T Millage Info FY 2026 2025-07-21.pdf (65 KB) 15. Public Hearing Subject : 15.6 Basic Discretionary Operating Millage Rate of 0.7480 Mills, presented by Julie Perry, Chief Financial Officer, and recommended by the Superintendent for approval. Meeting : Sep 8, 2025 - Workshop Meeting Type : Action Preferred Date : Sep 08, 2025 Absolute Date : Sep 08, 2025 Recommended Action : Motion to approve the Discretionary Operating Millage Rate of 0.7480 Mills. Public Content The Florida Legislature set the maximum discretionary operating millage at 0.748 mills. All school districts levy this millage, and the State includes this millage when calculating the amount of funds a District receives. These funds support general operations. 15. Public Hearing Subject : 15.7 Capital Outlay Millage Rate of 1.5000 Mills, presented by Julie Perry, Chief Financial Officer, and recommended by the Superintendent for approval. Meeting : Sep 8, 2025 - Workshop Meeting Type : Action Preferred Date : Sep 08, 2025 Absolute Date : Sep 08, 2025 Recommended Action : Motion to approve the Capital Outlay Millage Rate of 1.5000 Mills. Public Content School Boards may levy up to 1.5000 mills for capital outlay and maintenance. The State only provides about $1.0 million in capital funding to the District. Districts are required to raise all other capital funds through property tax and may supplement with voter approved sales tax. 15. Public Hearing Subject : 15.8 Total Millage Levy, presented by Julie Perry, Chief Financial Officer, and recommended by the Superintendent for approval. Meeting : Sep 8, 2025 - Workshop Meeting Type : Action Preferred Date : Sep 08, 2025 Absolute Date : Sep 08, 2025 Recommended Action : Motion to approve the tentative Total Millage Levy of 5.3770 Mills. Public Content Over the past 31 years, the Required Local Effort has been on a downward projectory, dropping from 6.530 in fiscal year 1995-1996 to 3.129 in fiscal year 2025-2026 with small increases periodically mixed in. Please see the attached document which contains a comparison of millage and gross taxable value of property, an analysis of property taxes generated and the impact on homeowners, and a history of all millage rates approved since fiscal year 1995-1996. Even though the millage rate is decreasing, property taxes are expected to increase due to the increase in property value; therefore, the School District must advertise that it is proposing an increase to property taxes. The Total Millage Levy is made up of the following: Required Local Effort - Florida State Law requires school districts to levy the Required Local Effort portion of the millage rate in order to receive State education funding. The Required Local Effort millage is 3.129 and is set by the State. Okaloosa School District must levy this amount in order to receive $144.7 million in State education funding for fiscal year 2025-2026. Discretionary Operating Millage - The Florida Legislature set the maximum discretionary operating millage at 0.748 mills. All school districts levy this millage, and the State includes this millage when calculating the amount of funds a District receives. These funds support general operations. Capital Outlay Millage - School Boards may levy up to 1.500 mills for capital outlay and maintenance. The State only provides about $1.0 million in capital funding to the District. Districts are required to raise all other capital funds through property tax and may supplement with voter approved sales tax. File Attachments P&T Millage Info FY 2026 2025-07-21.pdf (65 KB) 15. Public Hearing Subject : 15.9 Resolution 25-08 Adopting the Millage Rates for Fiscal Year 2025- 2026, presented by Julie Perry, Chief Financial Officer, and recommended by the Superintendent for approval. Meeting : Sep 8, 2025 - Workshop Meeting Type : Action Preferred Date : Sep 08, 2025 Absolute Date : Sep 08, 2025 Recommended Action : Motion to adopt Resolution 25-08 Adopting the Millage Rates for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. File Attachments Resolution 25-08 - ESE524 - FY 2026.pdf (85 KB) 15. Public Hearing Subject : 15.10 Okaloosa County School District Budget, General Fund, for Fiscal Year 2025-2026, presented by Julie Perry, Chief Financial Officer, and recommended by the Superintendent for approval. Meeting : Sep 8, 2025 - Workshop Meeting Type : Action Preferred Date : Sep 08, 2025 Absolute Date : Sep 08, 2025 Recommended Action : Motion to approve the Okaloosa County School District Budget, General Fund, in the amount of $414,591,274.99, for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. 15. Public Hearing Subject : 15.11 Okaloosa County School District Budget, Special Revenue Funds - Food Service for Fiscal Year 2025-2026, presented by Julie Perry,